Karting grad firing on many more cylinders
Dylan Davidson, 18, wins Bill Willard Sr. Silver Cup
A driver who learned how to race on the inside track at Merrittville Speedway continues to show he knows his way around the main one as well.
Dylan Davidson, 18, a graduate of the karting program at the Thorold track, held off a hardcharging James Michael Friesen at the finish line to take the checkered flag in Saturday night’s Sportsman feature.
In addition to the 60 points for finishing first for the second time this season, the fourth-generation driver from St. Catharines won the Bill Willard Sr. Silver Cup.
Davidson’s margin of victory in the 25-lapper was 0.713 seconds. He moved into the lead three laps in and remained the front-runner despite losing ground following caution flags on laps 16 and 17.
The finish was even closer in the 20-lap main event in the Mod Lite class. Only 0.389 seconds separated Brent Begolo and Josh Sliter at the finish line.
Begolo, a third-generation racer from Thorold and defending track champion in both the Sportsman and Mod Lite classes, won his second Mod Lite feature of the season. Last week Begolo took the checkered flag Sportsman. Mat Williamson’s dominating defence of his 358 Modified title continued as he beat fellow St. Catharines driver Pete Bicknell by 1.924 seconds for his seventh feature win at his hometown track.
St. Catharines’ Rob Murray and Niagara Falls’ John Couture, the reigning points kings in the Hoosier Stock and V6 divisions, respectively, each visited Victory Lane for the fifth time this season. Murray’s margin of victory over Rob Disher was 1.388 seconds, and Couture had 1.838 seconds on Colton Lane.
Nine laps were remaining in the Mini Stock feature when Kyle Rothwell overtook civic holiday winner Jeremy Cooper winner for the lead. The Welland driver never gave it back as he raced to his second win of the year at Merrittville.
Rothwell’s margin of victory was 1.441 seconds.
Top five, margin of victory and heat winners from Saturday night’s racing program at Merrittville Speedway
358 Modified, 35 laps: 1. Mat Williamson, 2. Pete Bicknell, 3. Gary Lindberg, 4. Ryan Susice, 5. Fred Carleton. Margin of victory: 1.924 seconds. Heat winners: Tom Neale, Rob Knapp.
Sportsman, 25 laps: 1. Dylan Davidson, 2. James Michael Friesen, 3. Jay Mallory, 4. Jordan Cosco, 5. Ryan Ferri. Margin of victory: 0.713 seconds. Heat winners: Ferri, Justin Sharp, Davidson.
Hoosier Stock, 20 laps: 1. Rob Murray, 2. Rob Disher, 3. Mark Fawcett, 4. Brad Sheehan, 5. Zach Bleich. Margin of victory: 1.388 seconds. Heat winners: Dave Bailey, Justin Fontaine.
Mod Lite, 20 laps: 1. Brent Begolo, 2. Josh Sliter, 3. Paul Klager, 4. Randy Giroux, 5. Tyler Winger. Margin of victory: 0.389 seconds. Heat winners: Winger, Begolo.
Mini Stock, 15 laps: 1. Kyle Rothwell, 2. Jeremy Cooper, 3. Austyn Westroh, 4. Tyler Lafantaisie, 5. Kyle Haynes. Margin of victory: 1.441 seconds. Heat winners: Lafantaisie, Haynes.
6 Cylinders, 12 laps: 1. John Couture, 2. Colton Lane, 3. Josh Dymtrow, 4. Kevin Conley, 5. Kyle Irving. Margin of victory: 1.838 seconds. Heat winners: Lane, Tina Ronning.
Autograph Night and the 40-lap finale in the King of the Crates Series for Sportsman racers are on track when racing returns Saturday, weather permitting. Pit gates open at 5 p.m., the grandstand at 5:30 p.m. with the first qualifying heat set for 7 p.m.
Track talk: 82 cars were signed in pitside … Highlighting intermission along the front stretch in front of the grandstand were the annual Kid’s Box Car Races.